UEFA Euro Cup 2008
Hosts: Austria & Switzerland
June 7, 2008 – June 29, 2008
I totally can’t wait for this competition. It’s one of the biggest soccer events after the World Cup. It’s counterparts in other continents consist of the Copa America which took place last year and good job for the Brazilians who won the cup; there’s the Asian Cup which also took place last year where the favourites Japan, Australia, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia were surprised by the championship winners Iraq; the African Cup of Nations which named Egypt their champions this year; the OFC’s Nations Cup and CONCACAF’s Gold Cup which are still to be settled this year and next year respectively.
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Some might wonder about my great fascination to the sport. For me personally, it’s the atmosphere that brings me to each soccer match. From chants, to banging drums and blowing horns, the fans bring the best in each game.
I watched several tournaments including 2 World Cups (2002 Korea-Japan, 2006 Germany), 1 Euro Cup (2004 Portugal), 1 Asian Cup (2007 Thailand-Vietnam-Indonesia-Malaysia), and 2 Copa America Tournaments (2004 Peru, 2007 Venezuela).
I followed the happenings in the Major League Soccer (US & Canadian League – especially Toronto FC), the English Primer League, Primera Liga (Spanish League), Lega Calcio Serie A (Italian League), Ligue 1 (French League), Fußball-Bundesliga (German League), the Eredivisie (Dutch League), the J-League (Japanese League), Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian League) and the A-League (Australian & New Zealand League).
I also became acquainted with the football legends in history and even at present.
I found out long time ago that there are a billion people who either play or are big fans of the sport.
I thought to myself that I found the sport of the people. It’s a sport that is fascinating enough to bring people together. We get to watch some good skills to some crazy goals and glorious celebrations from the players themselves to the fans. It’s the sport of the people to the point that we get to know the 11 men of our favourite team and we become affected to their happiness, their frustrations, their glories and their defeats. We celebrate for them, we cry for them, we find passion for the sport because of them… because they are humans just like us and we feel for everything that they’re going through. It’s a magical experience everytime I watch a football match.
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16 countries will be battling it out in this tournament surprisingly excluding Ukraine and England who are both phenomenal teams.
Group A:
1. Switzerland (Host)
2. Czech Republic
3. Portugal (Runner Up on the 2004 Euro Cup which they hosted;
4th place World Cup 2006 in Germany)
4. Turkey (3rd place World Cup 2002 Korea-Japan)
Group B
1. Austria (Host & Debut appearance)
2. Croatia
3. Germany (Third place World Cup 2006 which they hosted;
Runner Up World Cup 2002 Korea-Japan defeated by Brazil)
4. Poland (Debut Appearance)
Group C – this is the “Group of Death”
1. Netherlands
2. Italy (Current World Cup Holders 2006 Germany)
3. France (Runner Up World Cup 2006 Germany)
4. Romania
Group D
1. Greece (Title Holder Euro Cup 2004 defeating hosts Portugal)
2. Sweden
3. Spain
4. Russia
Every team had experienced playing in the Euro Cup with the exception of Poland who have come in the tournament for the very first time and Austria who joined the Euro Cup for the very first time and luckily as a host nation.
Through reflecting upon every country and their achievements over the recent years, I don’t personally think that any one of these countries weren’t convincing enough to be potential winners. I only need to do more research on Austria & Russia (both countries I haven’t heard of since the 2002 World Cup), and Romania (i haven’t heard of their football team and what strength they have)
I could hope for another cinderella team just like what Greece did 4 years ago. They surprisingly won the cup against Portugal, the host nation, in the 2004 Euro Cup Final. Unfortunately, because of the fact that I’ve heard pretty much every team (Romania doesn’t seem to be a surprise to everyone despite the fact that I haven’t heard about them), no one seemed to be a true underdog in this competition. I don’t think Austria & Poland’s debut appearance gives us any surprise either since both countries are capable of qualifying for the World Cup which meant that they can qualify at any tournament.
Kick off is on June 7!
